This article by Roberta Naas was originally written and posted in her Perfect Timing column on Forbes.com Finding exceptionally large diamonds is rare. Finding extra large diamonds in fancy colors is even more rare. As such, the announcement by Dominion Diamond Mines that it has unearthed the largest known diamond ever found in North America is big news. Found in October at the Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada, the Canadamark(TM) yellow diamond weighs in at 552 carats and beats the previous record (held by the Diavik Foxfire diamond) of 187.7 carats that was also found at the same mine. Dominion Diamond Mines ULC sources responsibly mined diamonds and owns 40 percent of Diavik. The Diavik Diamond Mine is just shy of 150 miles south of the Arctic Circle in the Northwest Territories of Canada, and has produced several important stones in the past. This newest discovery measures about 1-1/2 inches in diameter and more than 2 inches in height. The color and texture are unique geologically speaking, as such a large and rare yellow diamond doesn’t usually form in the region. According to Dominion Diamond Mines’ release, “Abrasion markings on the stone’s surface attest to the difficult journey it underwent during recovery, and the fact that it remains intact is remarkable.” The 552-carat yellow diamond found in Diavik mine is the largest diamond found in North America to date.DOMINION DIAMOND MINES The Canadamark(TM) program by Dominion Diamond Mines ensures that all diamonds bearing its logo are rigorously tracked from mine to polished gem in order to offer final consumers full transparency of the supply chain. Once the rough is cut, the diamonds will be certified as Canadamark(TM). In the case of the previously found Diavik Foxfire diamonds, rather than sell it in the rough, the stone was cut and polished —...

Graff Diamonds is known as one of the world’s premier purveyors of diamonds. Recently, on our Forbes.com column, Perfect Timing, we wrote about the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona rough diamond owned by Graff that was said to be the most valuable of its kind in the world. Graff first purchased the diamond oabout one year ago in a $53 milllion deal. It was the intention to cut that rough diamond – the second largest ever discovered — into a host of smaller diamonds to create a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for discerning customers to own a piece of that rarity and history. Now, Graff unveils the first approximately 60 diamonds cut from that rough and created in scintillating pieces of jewelry. Each diamond cut from the Lesedi La Rona is D-color.GRAFF DIAMONDS “The cutting of the Lesedi La Rona rough diamond, the largest rough diamond to be found in more than a century, was no small undertaking. It took master diamond cutters and gemologists more than a year of analysis, cutting and polishing before attaining the first 60-plus finished stones. While the main stone is still being worked on, Graff’s master designers took the first cut and polished stones – ranging in size from just under a carat to more than 100 carats each – and have incorporated them into extraordinary jewelry.” Graff Diamonds reveals the first 60 stones cut from the 1,000-plus-carat Lesedi La Rona rough diamond.GRAFF DIAMONDS “Each individual diamond is of D-color (the highest grade for a diamond) and possesses exceptionally clarity. Each is verified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and is laser inscribed with both Graff and Lesedi la Rona as proof of unique origin and as authentication. Each will have its own unique GIA number, as well. The first creations include oval, cushion and other fancy-cut...

Last week on my PerfectTiming column on Forbes.com, I presented the all-new Cartier Coloratura collection of high jewelry — inspired by cultures and color. Here, we bring you an excerpt from that article and a look at these great gems. “Each piece in the collection is a one-of-a-kind work of art. The series includes individual necklaces, as well as complete suites of jewelry inspired by a specific culture or color. One necklace, inspired by the lanterns used in Asian ceremonies, features a bottle pendant made from a rubellite rough stone that has been hand-carved using the ancient art of glyptic so that it can be filled with perfume. In fact, for nearly a decade, Cartier has dedicated an entire workshop to the art of glyptic, which is supervised by an award-winning master sculptor. The pendant bottle weighs more than 200 carats of rubellite, and the 18-karat yellow gold necklace features beads made of 27.70 carats of chalcedony, 67.66 carats of chrysoprase, 22.21 carats of Morganite, 24.50 carts of onyx, 1.20 carats of orange garnets and more than 5 carats of diamonds. Cartier also unveils an exceptional suite inspired by the brands color combinations used in jewels of the early 20th century. In this suite, the brand combines black and green – using lush tourmalines, rich green opals and black onyx or lacquer for striking beauty. Much like Cartier’s superb art deco jewels of that century, this new suite features geometric appeal, with angled, rectangular and square motifs paired with round shapes. The necklace in this suite is an alluring look indicative of the brand’s artistic skills as a purveyor of fine stones, gem-setter, and high-jewelry designer extraordinaire. Crafted in platinum, the necklace is set with 53.05 carats of tourmaline beads comprising three strands that sway from a single...

Those familiar with Tiffany & Co. know that the brand annually unveils its Blue Book– one-of-a-kind and unique pieces of jewelry and watches bedecked in gemstones and sporting a key theme. This year, the brand continues in its “The Art of the Wild” with a motif focusing on insects, birds, trees and flowers. There are 16 stunning watches joining the line up. Among them: Oval-shaped unique cocktail watches with marquetry butterflies in alluring hues of pink, as well as a diamond-and-sapphire set version. Round watches in 34 mm white gold with either gem-set dial, case, bezel, crown and, in several instances, bracelet. There are also dials that boast floral motifs via a marquetry mix of semi-precious stones (such as opal and chalcedony), diamonds and enamel. These watches are powered by self-winding mechanical movements. There are also 28mm round watches meticulously set with diamonds and boasting a quartz movement. ...

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